Ritchie and Ritchie

This matter concerned an application before Guest J in the Family Court of Australia, involving the parents of a child born in December 2003. The dispute revolved around parenting arrangements for the child, with an urgent application made to restrain the child's removal from Australia.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting orders for the child, considering the parties' consent to shared parental responsibility and specific living and time arrangements. Additionally, the court needed to address the implications of the child's current location in Queensland with the Wife and Maternal Grandfather, and the Wife's expected return to Victoria within three months. The court also considered the role and discharge of the Independent Children's Lawyer.

By consent, the court discharged all existing parenting orders and ordered that the parties share equal parental responsibility for the child. The child was to live with the Husband. Upon the Wife's return from Queensland, the child was to spend time with her at least once per week, and with T on at least two occasions per week, with times to be agreed. The parties were ordered to keep each other informed of their addresses and telephone numbers, and the Husband was to advise the Wife of any medical treatment required by the child. The child was permitted to telephone the non-resident parent at all reasonable times. All extant applications were dismissed, and the proceedings were removed from the Pending Cases List. The Independent Children's Lawyer agreed to these orders, noting the Husband no longer sought the child to live with him, the Wife and child's presence in Queensland, the Wife's linkage to services there, and the recommendations in a Family Report. An order was also made restraining the removal of the child from Australia, with the Australian Federal Police requested to register the child's name on the Airport Watch List.